Method of stringing pianofortes.



Patented lune-l2, I900 B. B. MGDA'NIEL. METHOD OF STRINGINGPIA'NOFDRTESQ [Application filed Sept. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN B. MCDANIEL, OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS.

METHOD QF STRINGING PIANOFQRTES.

srncrrrenrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,765, dated June 12,1906. Application filed September 23, 1899. Serial No. 781,435. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. MODAN- IEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Des Plaines, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methodsof Stringing Pianofortes and Like Musical Instruments; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to.

1 being under a different tension from the part forming the first stringof the next note in order. The parts of the same string being underdifferent tension results in the difficulty experienced in keeping theinstrument in tune, because there is a tendency for the main string toslip at the bight around the hitchpin, thereby loosening the tension ofone half and proportionately increasing the tension of the other half,which throws both out of tune. This invention requires each noteto havefour, six, or an even number of unison strings to each note, all theunison strings being of substantially equal length and tension andcorresponding strings being formed of folded parts of the same string.By this method of stringing pianofortes and like musical instruments thesame will remain in tune for a greater length of time, the quality,volume, and character of the tone are improved, and parts of the samestring will not be under different tension and the work of tuninggreatly simplified.

The drawing is typical of the class of stringed musical instruments forwhich the invention is designed.

The sounding-board 1 is provided with the spaced bridges 2 and 3, overwhich the unison strings pass. The wrest-plate 4 and hitchplate 5receive the wrest-pins 7 and the hitchpins 6, respectively.

corresponding wrest-pins.

It will be observed that the unison strings of each note are in evennumber, being a multiple of two, four being shown, and of equal length.Hence the tension of the unison strings is uniform and equal. Each noteis composed of four unison strings, which are parts of two main stringsfolded upon themselves, the hitch-pins being received in the bights andthe terminals being attached to The pins are provided in two sets, innerand outer, and corresponding hitch-pins al ine lon= gitudinally, theinner hitch-pin being of less diameter than the outer hitch-pin toproperly space the unison strings. The same result would be attained bydoubling the outer hitchpins. Corresponding hitch-pins and wrest pinsare spaced apart a like distance to enable the unison strings of any onenote being of equal length.

The inner unison strings 8 are hitched to the inner pins 6 and havetheir terminals applied to the outer wrest-pins 7, and the outer unisonstrings 9 are attached to the outermost hitch-pins and have theirextremities secured to the inner wrest-pins.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the parts of the same andcorresponding unison strings are under like tension. Hence there is notendency for equalization of differentlytensioned strings, which is thechief source of trouble in maintaining stringed musical instruments ofthe class having unison strings in tune. Moreover, the strings are notso liable to break and the tuning is greatly simplified and facilitated.

It is to be understood that in applying the invention to instrumentshaving two unison strings the latter will be of equal length andtension, the main string being doubled upon itself at a central point.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Instringed musical instruments, pairs of wrest-pins longitudinally spaced,the outermost pins being opposite the space between the innermost pinsand spaced a less distance apart, longitudinally-spaced hitch-pins, andmusical strings looped around the hitch-pins and having their terminalsattached to corresponding wrest-pins and forming multiple unisonstrings, the folded portions of each string being of equal length andtension, sub- I tension, the outer string being folded around stantiallyas described.

2. In stringed musical instruments, longitudinally-spaced hitch-pins,pairs of wrest: pins spaced apart a distance equal to the distancebetween the hitch-pins, the pins of the pairs being unequally spaced,and musical strings looped around the hitch-pins and having theirterminals attached to the wrest-pins 10 to form unison strings 0f equallength and the inner folded string, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

SARAH L. ELEY, EDWARD BEHRENS;

